Lahore (Pakistan), September 6: Severe floods in Pakistan’s Punjab province have claimed at least 50 lives and affected nearly 4 million people since August 23, provincial authorities said on Saturday.
Punjab, home to over 130 million people, has been battered by torrential rains since mid-August, pushing nearly all major rivers and tributaries beyond danger levels.
According to Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, massive rescue and relief efforts are underway.
“Around four million people in Punjab have been affected or displaced by the floods so far. Nearly 1.84 million people trapped in floodwaters have been rescued and relocated to safer areas. Additionally, 1.34 million animals have been shifted to safety,” Kathia told reporters.
Rescue teams, military units, and volunteers continue to work around the clock, but large parts of the province remain inundated, with concerns mounting over disease outbreaks and food shortages.
The PDMA has urged federal agencies and humanitarian organizations to step up support as weather forecasts predict more rain in coming days, raising fears of worsening conditions.